Thomasville employee celebrates 50 years with city

Tuesday

Jan 29, 2013 at 4:45 PM

Dixie Fincannon has worked for the Thomasville Finance Department for 50 years. Let that information sink in for a moment.

BY NASH DUNNThe Dispatch

THOMASVILLE | Dixie Fincannon has worked for the Thomasville Finance Department for 50 years. Let that information sink in for a moment.To put it into perspective, Fincannon, a native of Wilkes County, has worked for Thomasville for 31 percent of the time it has existed as a city. Additionally, Thomasville City Manager Kelly Craver was 5 years old when Fincannon first took her seat in City Hall.Per Thomasville Mayor Joe Bennett, her tenure with the city is the lengthiest of all time.What's even more impressive is that she's not done yet — she's not retiring."I see no reason to," Fincannon said Tuesday during a celebratory party honoring her service to the city. "Why would I leave such a good place?"After graduating from Ashmore Business College in 1962, Fincannon earned a job as a switchboard operator with the city a year later. She was hired by former city manager Peter Lydens, one of the many former colleagues, friends and family present at the party at the Ball Park Community Center.Fincannon went on to work accounts for a variety of city departments, including parks and recreation and the fire department."When I was at Ashmore, I hated accounting and said, 'Please don't let me end up in accounting,'" Fincannon said. "But I did, and I am so thankful for it."Thomasville Finance Director Tony Jarrett, who has worked with the city for 32 years, has supervised Fincannon during most of that time."She's consistently good," Jarrett said. "She's punctual and 50 years later, she still believes in punctuality."Jarrett said being in finance, attention to detail is of upmost importance — something Fincannon never lost sight of."We are fortunate that we are not just coworkers but good friends," Jarrett said.And that feeling is mutual. Fincannon, who grew up in Mills Home in Thomasville and had adopted parents from Moore County, said her family is at the church and with the city."It's been the most wonderful place to work, and I thank God that I have had good health and such great colleagues," Fincannon said. "I've gotten to meet and love a lot of people."Thomasville Mayor Joe Bennett has been next-door neighbors with Fincannon for 37 years. "I just can't say enough good about her and her dedication as an employee serving the citizens," Bennett said. "She loves her work, loves her job and loves working with the city."In today's economic climate and a shortage for jobs, Fincannon said it's not as easy to switch from job to job, as some may have used to do."It takes patience and just like in any job, you think, 'Is this worth it?', sometimes, but you learn to mature and love it," Fincannon said.Nash Dunn can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 227, or at nash.dunn@the-dispatch.com.